How life has changed in Test Valley

Test Valley's population increased by about 6,600 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Test Valley increased by 6.0%, from just under 110,000 to 116,000.

The addition of just under 6,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Test Valley was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Test Valley

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Test Valley increased by four years, from 39 to 43 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 13.0% of people in Test Valley are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Test Valley by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Employment in Test Valley

Test Valley saw the South East's third-largest fall in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57.5%) people aged 16 to 74 in Test Valley said they were employed, compared with 60.5% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed increased from 1.5% to 2.5%.

Across the region, only Slough (from 59.1% to 55.2%) and Milton Keynes (from 62.5% to 59.4%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of employed people.

The rate of employment was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More homes without children

Test Valley saw the South East's third-largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (61.1%) households in Test Valley had no children, compared with 59.5% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 31.1% to 29.6%.

Across the region, only West Oxfordshire (from 60.2% to 62.0%) and Eastleigh (from 58.6% to 60.2%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of households without children.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Test Valley

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Test Valley was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.8 points.

In 2011, 27.0% of respondents in Test Valley gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 15.2% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Test Valley, 70.7% said they were Christian, compared with 83.4% in 2001. About 0.6% said they were Muslim, compared with 0.3% a decade prior.

In Test Valley, 7.1% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.4% in 2001. Across the South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Test Valley increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Test Valley by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Test Valley

The percentage of Test Valley residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.2% to 7.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.2% in 2001. The percentage of Test Valley residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.6% to 89.6%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Test Valley, but at a slower rate than in Southampton (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Test Valley).

In Test Valley, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.8% in 2001 to 12.9% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Southampton increased from 16.5% to 24.9%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

The rate of social housing in Test Valley remained close to 14.4%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 74.1% to 70.3%.

Private renting in Test Valley increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Test Valley, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Test Valley working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.0% to 12.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Test Valley decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Test Valley, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Test Valley residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.2% to 3.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84.6%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73.7% in 2001. The percentage of Test Valley residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.2% to 11.6%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Test Valley decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Test Valley, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Test Valley

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Test Valley, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Test Valley, the proportion of single people increased from 23.5% in 2001 to 25.8% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28.5% to 32.1%.

The proportion of married people in Test Valley fell from 58.5% to 55.8%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10.6% to 11.7%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Test Valley

In 2011, 95.9% of Test Valley residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 97.9% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 95.3% to 90.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 2.0% of people in Test Valley said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 1.1% in 2001. About 1.3% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.7% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.4%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Test Valley decreased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Test Valley by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Test Valley, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.5% to 9.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in four (24.9%) households had only one person, compared with 24.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in Test Valley which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 45.5% to 41.4%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Test Valley residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 1.1% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.5%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Test Valley remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Test Valley by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links